THE
BRITISH CONTROVERSIALIST.
Modern Metaphysicians
THE LATE JAMES FREDERICK FERRIER, B.A., LL.D.,
Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews. [1]
"Philosophy is not traditional. As a mere inheritance it carries no benefit to either man or boy. The more it is a received dogmatic the less it is a quickening process." " Philosophy exists only to correct the inadvertencies of man's ordinary thinking. She has no other mission to fulfil, no other office to overtake, no other business to do. If man naturally thinks aright, he need not be taught to think aright. If he is already and without an effort in possession of the truth, he does not require to be put in possession of it. The occupation of Philosophy is gone, her office is superfluous, there is nothing for her to put her hand to. Therefore Philosophy assumes, and must assume, that man does not naturally think aright, but must be taught to do so; that truth does not come to him spontaneously, but must be brought to him by his own exertions." "This assumption is the ground and only justification of the existence of Philosophy." "She is controversial as the very tenure and vindication of her existence, for how can she correct the slips of common opinion—the oversights of natural thinking—except by controverting them?" "Truths are unintelligible, or nearly so, unless when contrasted with their opposing errors." "The only light of every truth is its contrasting
- ↑ Lectures on Greek Philosophy, and other Philosophical Remains. 2 vols. . London & Edinburgh : William Blackwood & Sons. Institutes of Metaphysic: the Theory of Knowing and Being. London & Edinburgh : William Blackwood & Sons. Scottish Philosophy—The Old and the New: a Statement. Edinburgh: Sutherland and Knox. London: Simpkin & Co.
